Do you buy sunpass when you rent a car in orlando?

[disneymom]

Oh Im a worrier arent I

last time we hired a car out in Orlando we spent a small fortune on toll roads and I started to wonder if I should have said yes to buying a sunpass card from dollar car hire

What do you think? is it worth doing that, are there any savings or is it just for convenience?

[Slowhand]

I`ve never bothered to purchase a Sun Pass as I hardly use the toll roads when I am in the Orlando area.
Having spent quite a lot in tolls on those times when we have visited the Keys or Vero Beach though, I reckon that I would buy the pass in those circumstances.

[Wendy]

We buy it every time, it takes away the worry if you haven't got any change and it's an un-manned toll

We tend to use the toll roads as nine times out of 10 they are less congested and quicker.

A friend did look into us buying our own, but I don't think would have worked out for us

[Keith]

How does it work then? You rent a card from the car place and it has so much prepaid ? Or it racks up the charges and they bill you at the end?

[catrancher]

How does it work then? You rent a card from the car place and it has so much prepaid ? Or it racks up the charges and they bill you at the end?

It's a transponder that you affix to the windshield of your car Keith. You can fund it in a number of different ways. Either automatically via a credit card when your balance reaches a pre-defined lower limit (set by you), or you can fund it with a credit card online, or pay cash to fund it at various locations around the state. More info here.

Tom (... I prefer toll house cookies to toll roads!)

[Slowhand]

I know that the Sunpass is ok for the Turnpike, but is it valid for the 528?

[catrancher]

I know that the Sunpass is ok for the Turnpike, but is it valid for the 528?

Yep.

Works on the 528 (Beachline Expressway) too. Also supposedly saves you 25 cents on the toll from I-4 all the way out to the Banana River. $3.25 cash or $3.00 with SunPass.

BTW - they've also got special rental car programs where you don't actually have to have one of the transponders.

Tom (... )

[Slowhand]

Thanks Tom

[Tink]

Sun Pass and EZ pass are interchangeable (meaning that they both work on all Florida toll roads). EZ Pass is the one that you see posted, so it gets confusing when you don't see postings allowing Sun Pass.

We've searched and I think (stress on think there!) that Herself has finally found a way (buried deep in the requirements and directions) using SUN PASS (not EZ pass) you can purchase your own transponder (about $25) and then activate it through Credit Card use, even though you are not a Florida Resident. Will keep you posted on that, but from what she's learned so far it would take a laptop (or internet access) and the license plate number of the rental car; then you would log on to attach the license plate number to the Sun Pass transponder and off you go (after telling the connection site what the credit card number is and how much you are authorizing at one time). Sounds a bit complicated but for folks who visit often, it really could work out to be a significant savings.

I'm not sure, but I think that if you "rent" Sun Pass from a car rental place you are overpaying (potentially). With true self owned Sun Pass, the tolls are cheaper than with cash, so keep that in mind.

[catrancher]

I'm not sure, but I think that if you "rent" Sun Pass from a car rental place you are overpaying (potentially).

That's very true, Tink. At least as far as I know. I "think" the car rental agencies charge you about $6.95/day for the SunPass. If that's so, it's highway robbery!

Tom (... ... again)